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New
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Year 10
Eduqas

The afterlife: judgement

I can explain Christian beliefs about judgement, including the influence and importance of these beliefs for Christians today.

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New
New
Year 10
Eduqas

The afterlife: judgement

I can explain Christian beliefs about judgement, including the influence and importance of these beliefs for Christians today.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Most Christians agree that God decides who enters heaven and who goes to hell. This belief is known as judgement.
  2. Judgement is the belief that God decides whether a person is eternally rewarded with heaven, or punished with hell.
  3. There are two types of judgement: individual/particular; and final judgement (the Day of Judgement).
  4. Parables can be used to support Christian belief in both types of judgement.
  5. The belief in judgement is important for many Christians and may influence thoughts, behaviours and actions.

Keywords

  • Afterlife - what follows the physical life on earth; life after death

  • Day of Judgement - at the end of time, each person will be judged by God and rewarded or punished

  • Judgement - the belief that God will decide whether each person should receive eternal life or eternal punishment based on their earthly life

Common misconception

Christians only follow Jesus' teachings because of their belief in judgement.

Although the Bible makes it clear that there are consequences in the afterlife for actions in this life, for many Christians, the desire to live a good life is rooted in love for God and faith in Jesus as the saviour, not a fear of judgement.


To help you plan your year 10 religious education lesson on: The afterlife: judgement, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

You may wish to print Luke 16:19-31 (The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus) and read the full story with students.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Some Christians believe that is not a physical place, but a state where people experience eternal joy with God.
Correct Answer: heaven, Heaven
Q2.
What is a traditional Christian belief about hell?
Correct answer: Hell is a physical place of suffering and punishment.
Hell is temporary, and all souls eventually go to heaven.
Hell does not exist; it is just a metaphor.
Q3.
How might belief in heaven and hell influence a Christian’s behaviour?
It has no impact on their actions in life.
It makes them believe that actions on earth do not matter.
Correct answer: It encourages them to live according to Jesus’ teachings.
Q4.
Which of the following best describes an inclusivist view of heaven?
Only those who believe in Jesus will go to heaven.
Correct answer: People who live good lives may enter heaven, even if they are not Christian.
Everyone will go to heaven, no matter what they believe.
Q5.
Which of the following is a contemporary belief about hell?
Hell is a place of eternal fire and torment.
Correct answer: Hell is a state of self-exclusion from God.
Hell is a place where souls wait before going to heaven.
Q6.
What is one way Christian funeral practices reflect beliefs about the afterlife?
Correct answer: Christians pray for the dead and find comfort in God’s love.
Christians do not believe in funerals, as only God decides the afterlife.
Christians avoid mentioning heaven or hell at funerals.

6 Questions

Q1.
The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats is often used to support belief in the Day of ...
Correct Answer: Judgement, judgement
Q2.
Which belief do most Christians hold about judgement?
Only those who are perfect will go to heaven.
People judge themselves based on their own actions.
Correct answer: God decides who enters heaven and who goes to hell.
Q3.
Which parable is often used to support belief in individual judgement?
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
Correct answer: The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
Q4.
Which of the following best describes Christian beliefs about why people follow Jesus’ teachings?
Correct answer: because they love God and have faith in Jesus, though judgement is a factor
only because they fear God’s judgement
because they believe they can avoid all suffering in life
Q5.
Why do Christians believe that God’s judgement is important?
Correct answer: because it confirms that God is fair and just
because it allows people to choose their own fate after death
because it guarantees everyone will go to heaven
Q6.
Which of the following best describes the influence of belief in judgement on Christians?
It has no influence on how they live.
Correct answer: It encourages them to follow Jesus’ teachings and do good deeds.
It means they do not believe in free will.

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